Energy Predicament of Pakistan: SWOT Analysis and Way Forward
Safia Mansoor holistically covers the various dynamics of Pakistan’s energy crisis and the threats to Pakistan’s power sector by using the SWOT analysis. Strengths of Pakistan’s energy sector are massive coal reserves alongside wind, solar, and hydro energy potential, whereas the weaknesses include poor governance, inadequate role of DISCOs, T&D losses, corruption, and energy supply chain problems.
She also highlights various opportunities such as CPEC energy projects and clean & green energy technologies. Most importantly, the threats to the country’s energy sector are also discussed which include circular debt and lack of energy diversification.
She concludes that political, institutional, economic and technical reforms are need of time to deal with worsening power crisis of country.
Oppenheimer: Recorded History vs Glossed Reels
In this day and age, everyone who is chronically online knows to take any form of media or information with a grain of salt; the same should be the case with Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking new film ‘Oppenheimer’ which was released just last month on 21st July 2023.
Based on the book ‘American Prometheus’ by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the highly anticipated movie had a budget of around $100 million. Records broke around the globe as people rushed to theaters and cinemas to catch the earliest screenings.
Nolan has been known to create intellectually challenging films such as Tenet, Inception, Interstellar, and more which make the viewers question not only the laws of physics but of reality as well. Oppenheimer, too, has not deviated from this path.
Is the movie an accurate depiction of history, or has it instead been portrayed to advance American heroism?
Paradigm Shift’s Magazine: July 2023 Edition
The July 2023 edition of the Paradigm Shift magazine contains 13 handpicked pieces.
These cover the French riots, the geopolitcial significance of China’s digital Silk Road, the micro hyrdopower projects as a solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis, and the comparison of the PMS and CSS exams.
The July edition features two infographics: one featuring the top 10 countries in military spending, and the independence dates of the former Soviet republics.
This edition also has a book review, an op-ed, two PU pieces, and an interview of Brigadier (R) Samson Simon Sharaf.
Climate Change: A Growing Challenge to State Sovereignty
The sovereignty of states cannot be studied in isolation from the environment in which they reside. Changes in climate patterns have a profound impact on human behavior and pose new challenges for the state. As rising sea levels, droughts, erratic rainfall, and food insecurity sweep across regions due to climate change, large populations have begun abandoning their homelands in search of security and better living standards. Athar Ali discusses how climate-driven mass migrations have influenced the sovereignty of states, disrupting socio-economic and political development.
Notable Political Philosophers
It would not be possible to comprehend how society and the state function without an analysis of political science. It gives people clarity of mind and thought, and the ability to formulate opinions without generational bias.
Termed as the “Queen of Sciences” by Aristotle, political science encompasses the local government, constitutional law, political parties, judicial institutions, policy-making, resource allocation, socio-political ideologies, and state machinery.
Hafsa Ammar explores the works and ideas of five prominent political philosophers: Plato, Al-Farabi, Al-Ghazali, Ibn Khaldun, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
The Thriving Cotton Market of Pakistan
The favorable climate and rich soil of Pakistan create an ideal environment for cotton cultivation.
In FY2018-19, it was noted that the cotton market accounted for 0.8% of the country’s GDP.
Fizza Batool explores the various factors that contribute to Pakistan’s competitive advantage while also pointing to strong competitors that have appeared such as Bangladesh.
Inside the Russian Wagner Group: Understanding its Role in Modern Warfare
In the shadowy world of private military companies, one name has recently dominated headlines: the Russian Wagner Group. Known for its covert operations and alleged ties to the Russian government, the Wagner Group has long been a subject of intrigue and speculation.
The group has been accused of interfering in the affairs of Middle Eastern and African states at the behest of Russia. Its amplifying notoriety comes from its not-so-covert involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, reports emerged in June 2023 of the private military company’s (PMC) leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and a group of Wagner mercenaries revolting against Moscow, revealing what some say are cracks in Putin’s power.
The Migration Crisis in Tunisia
The Republic of Tunisia, a North African country, has seen much despair over the past decade and has garnered much international recognition due to its vital role in the Arab Spring. Seen as the only state that fully turned over a new leaf and dedicated its efforts to a democratic future, it seemed that the country had a course chartered for progress and prosperity, but that soon went downhill.
Currently, Tunisia is going through a major humanitarian crisis that involves police brutality, cultural and structural violence, and blatant human rights violations, especially concerning migrants and refugees.
Unveiling the Legacy: How Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Shaped Pakistan’s Foreign Policy
Fatimah Naeem delves into the tumultuous era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s leadership in Pakistan and the profound impact it had on the country’s foreign policy. With a vision of assertive diplomacy, Bhutto navigated a complex geopolitical landscape, facing both formidable challenges and remarkable triumphs. From his ambitious pursuit of nuclear capability to the redefinition of Pakistan’s role in the Muslim World, the author explores the changes in Pakistan’s relations with its neighbors and the US.
The Notorious Practice of Custodial Torture in Pakistan
Custodial torture, or torture in custody, is often used as a tool by the perpetrators of justice, i.e., law enforcement agencies.
Rida Zaman asserts that these so-called custodians of justice contribute to the waning of the just and fair standards of the criminal justice system.
She also notes that the relevant legislation, the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2023, suffers from procedural and substantive deficiencies.
Parallels between Palestine and Kashmir
Palestine and Kashmir are two of the world’s most drawn-out and complex conflicts to date. They are multi-dimensional, focusing not only on a territorial epicenter but an ideological one as well.
Hafsa Ammar focuses on the several parallels between these two conflicts: a Muslim-majority population, colonialism, regional enmity, geostrategic importance, among others.
The Geopolitics of China’s Digital Silk Road
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the greatest infrastructure project in the world, has a component called the Digital Silk Road that intends to increase digital connectivity and collaboration among the participating countries.
Established in 2015, it spans a variety of industries including satellite navigation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, e-commerce, and telecommunications, stretching Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The Digital Silk Road is motivated by China’s desire to open new markets as well as to shift the global digital order away from the United States.
Assessing the Implications of Pakistan-Russia Cooperation for India
Pakistan and Russia have had a long and complicated history, with relations only recently starting to warm up. But what impact will this newfound friendship have on India’s relationship with Russia?
As two of the world’s largest countries, Russia and India have maintained a strategic partnership for decades, working together on everything from military defense to space exploration. But with Pakistan now cozying up to Russia, could this threaten India’s standing as Russia’s top ally in the region?
Ayesha Javaid contemplates the answer to this complex question by considering the different factors at play, including historical ties, geopolitical tensions, and economic interests.
Pakistan’s Digital Diplomacy: The Foreign Office’s Role in Global Outreach
Pakistan, an emerging nation with a tech-savvy population, has the potential to become a digital powerhouse internationally, and Pakistan’s Foreign Office is essential for nurturing the country’s digital agenda and interests.
Various initiatives like the e-visa system, virtual dashboard, and diplomacy policy have been taken by the foreign office. Despite the progress made in digital diplomacy in Pakistan, there are still some major issues and difficulties that need to be addressed and resolved.
Javeria Saghir believes that a detailed analysis of the challenges facing Pakistan’s e-diplomacy efforts, the impact of Pakistan’s digital diplomacy initiatives, and a comparison of Pakistan’s digital diplomacy with other digitally advanced countries are necessary to realize the country’s full potential.
Pakistan’s AI Journey: Navigating A Rocky Terrain
Sameer Sohail discusses the challenges and obstacles that Pakistan is bound to face in the near future on the job market, the education system and society in general as it develops and deploys its AI systems.
He focuses mainly on the issues associated with AI technologies that would be available to the general public, not the ones designed for military or national security purposes.
Those issues include the government’s poor understanding of the matter, a lack of national AI policy, the alignment problem of AI and the lack of philosophical and critical thinking skills in our youth.
The Arctic Region: A New Frontier for Geostrategic Competition
The Arctic region is witnessing a surge in geostrategic competition. It has attracted the attention of several key players, each with their own interests and motivations. Russia, for example, sees the Arctic as a strategic area for resource extraction and military dominance. Meanwhile, the United States is concerned about maintaining its influence in the region in the midst of China’s increasing economic and strategic involvement. The competing interests of these nations are shaping the geostrategic competition in the Arctic and have the potential to impact global dynamics.
The New Global World Order: Aging Gracefully
The end of the Cold War marked the beginning of American exceptionalism, as we know it now. The three decades following the fall of the Berlin Wall witnessed the capricious acts of the US, from its unilateral wars to blatant violations of other international rules and norms.
However, since the 2007 economic meltdown, the doctrine of American exceptionalism has faced decadence as has the economic growth of the country. Meanwhile, other factors, such as the rise of China, the resurgence of Russia, and the nuclear proliferation of other countries kept on playing their fair share in bringing the world to a multipolar environment.
